(En Français plus bas)
My great grand mother on my father’s side, Mané, was the best cook our family has ever had. She was famous for her incredible stews and her crêpes so thin that one could read the newspaper through them. She died when I was only three years old, but her best recipes were past down to me by my Aunt Nicole.
Like any great cook, Mané also LOVED to eat. Her favorite vegetables were peas. I think I might have told you this story before, but she was allergic to peas. They made her very very sick. She couldn’t care less though and would eat large quantities of them whenever she had the opportunity. Her children and grand children would say: “Mané, you shouldn’t! You know how sick peas make you”; to which she always replied: “Well, at least I’ll know why I’m sick!”.
Her recipe for peas was simple yet delicious. Most people in France cook them that way:
- Lightly brown 1 or 2 shallots with a little bit of bacon (optional)
- Add fresh peas, some water to barely cover them, a bouquet garni (fresh thyme and rosemary), a few tiny pearl onions or fresh green onions and a piece of sugar, salt and pepper
- Let them simmer for 10 to 15 minutes
You can also boil the peas in advance for about 2 minutes with a teaspoon of baking soda so they don’t give you gas later :0)
Mané, mon arrière-grand-mère maternelle, était la meilleure cuisinière que notre famille ait jamais compté. Elle était célèbre pour ses ragoûts incroyables et ses crêpes étaient si fines que l’on pouvait lire le journal à travers. Elle est décédée quand j’avais seulement trois ans, mais ses recettes m’ont été transmises par tante et à ma mère.
Comme tout grand cuisinier, Mané aimait aussi manger (et c’est un euphémisme!!). Ses légumes préférés étaient les petits pois. Je crois vous avoir déjà raconté cette histoire, mais elle était allergique aux petits pois qu’elle aimait tant. Elle en mangeait toujours des quantités. Ses enfants et petits-enfants la prévenaient: «Mané, vous ne devriez pas manger de petits pois. Vous savez qu’ils vous rendent malade!”. Ce à quoi elle répondait toujours: «Eh bien, au moins je saurai pourquoi je suis malade!”.
Sa recette était toute simple mais délicieuse:
- Faites revenir 1 ou 2 échalotes avec un peu de lard (facultatif)
- Ajouter les petits pois frais, de l’eau pour les couvrir à peine, un bouquet garni (thym frais et de romarin), quelques petits oignons et un morceau de sucre, du sel et du poivre. Un peu de serpolet évitera les flatulences :0)
- Laissez mijoter pendant 10 à 15 minutes
Vous pouvez aussi faire blanchir les petits pois à l’avance pendant environ 2 minutes avec une cuillère à café de bicarbonate alimentaire afin qu’ils ne vous donnent pas de flatulences plus tard :0)
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
Haha lovely story. In the period when I worked behind the counter as a pharmacist I did encounter a lot of people that would eat things even when they are allergic to it!
I LOVE peas!!! Will try this for sure. Love the story of your Aunt and the photo is great!
My grandmother is allergic to poultry..but periodically she eats chicken or turkey.. then proceeds to be violently ill. It’s amazing what we will put up with the foods we love, yes? 🙂
I get sick every time I eat spaghetti with meatballs. Yet, nothing could keep me from them!! 🙂 🙂
I don’t care for peas. I will eat them in things, but I would not put them on my plate served alone. And I wouldn’t make them. Well, I would make them if my husband loved them and requested them, but there are so many other veggies we like I don’t bother. I wonder what it was about peas that made your grandmother sick.
Even though I am not a pea fan . . . . I do like this new look. Sorry I am just now seeing it. Thanks for sharing your grandmother’s recipe. If I am ever called upon to make peas I shall pull this out to do so!
I think it was more about what they did to her digestive system more than an allergy…
Ah-ha! Sometimes we do eat things we know will affect our digestive system in a negative way, but we love what we are eating!
This looks fantastic and your photos are amazing!
Thanks so much friend! It means a lot coming from you!!
just found this..
when WILL I SEE YOU doing these things???
🙂
Someday maybe…
YOU ARE READY!!!! YOU ARE BETTER!!!!! You have a splendid !location! and so much more knowledge about food and life generally!!!
Thanks my dear friend!!
we all have to thank you for being HERE…!!
😉
Lovely work as usual – nice photos, great story, enticing recipe.
Thanks Paula! Means a lot coming from you!
I love the photo of your great grandmother – what a treasure!
I have so many family pictures like this. The oldest one is from 1865 of my great great grandmother Janie…
So enriching to see how we belong as a link to a long chain stretching back into history!
With bacon, I need to try this! 🙂
Let me know how you like it! 🙂
I will! 🙂
Stephane–Those pictures are looking gorgeous. Nicely done.
Thanks my darling J!
Yum yum. Bonjour, ca va?
Beautiful pictures, seems like you do not have to learn how to do photos in the mystic light style whatsoever!!! Great job, Lilia
Thanks Lilia! I am having quite a lot of fun trying to follow this new trend 🙂
Lovely blog – recipe. history, beautiful pics, and then your grandmother !
Why thanks Valerie! I appreciate it!!
Another fine post. Very impressive indeed. Lovely story, well told.
Best,
Conor.
Thanks Conor! You always write such nice comments for me. Much appreciated at the end of a long day 😉
What a wonderful legacy! Keep those family recipes safe….
I do keep them safe. I am not a rich man and these recipes are what I value most…
They are priceless for they are the miracles of daily sustenance!!!
I love this story and the picture of Mané. I had never heard the tip about baking soda. I wonder if that works with other legumes. Your blog posts are always so lovely and vibrant with words and imagery. Thank you for sharing your stories.
It works with all vegetables including cabbage! Make sure you get the edible kind though. I don’t know about where you are, but here we have different grades of baking soda…
Thank you so much.
I could eat that whole pot!!
I know I did 😉
Gorgeous photos. I licked the screen.
Be careful Sean! These computers are expensive… 😉 🙂
Lovely photos, but the story is even more lovely. Your great-grand-mother must have been a joy to know. 🙂
janet
Thanks Janet! I’m told she was quite a lot of fun indeed…
Peas are my favourite vegetable too. I could eat them by the plateful so can totally understand yor great grandmother’s obsession. Gorgeous photos.
Thanks friend! Peas are one of my favorites too…
Beautiful photography and a cute story! Thank you.
Thanks! I wish I had known her better…
I love recipes passed down. I love having that connection. 🙂
I love your mane. Wish I could put that little accent thing on the word. She sounds like a lovely woman.
I love peas, especially in summertime, what a brilliant anecdote from you family!!
Stunning photography, it feels as though I am actually eating the peas as I read your post!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories and pictures! I think I would have liked to have been your great grandmother’s friend!
Thank you for sharing this lovely story and beautiful pictures! I think I would have liked to have been your great grandmother’s friend!!!!
I need to try it!!!! And that is a very nice vintage photo 🙂
This sounds like a great recipe for peas and the pictures are lovely!